CHRISTIAN (Gr. Christianos). The biblical meaning is "adherent of Christ."

The disciples were formally called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26).

Agrippa recognized that to believe what Paul preached would make him a Christian (26:28).

Peter accepted the name as in itself a basis for persecution (1 Peter 4:16).

The Latin termination -ianos, widely used throughout the empire, often designated the slaves of the one with whose name it was compounded. This implication occurs in the NT (e.g., Rom 6:22; 1 Peter 2:16).

The apostles wrote of themselves as servants (slaves) of Christ (Rom 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1; Rev 1:1).

The NT calls the followers of Christ brothers (Acts 14:2); disciples (6:1-2); saints (9:13; Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2); believers (1 Tim 4:12); the church of God (Acts 20:28); all who call on your name (9:14; Rom 10:12-13).

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